8 . Janelle ’ s husband severely restricted her movements but was often out late at night with no explanation . He refused to let her use contraceptives and sometimes " inspected " her vagina , looking for " signs " that she was unfaithful . She was distraught when her medical provider diagnosed her with herpes and syphilis , which her husband had apparently contracted and given to her .
9 . Tammy was transitioning to life as a woman , taking hormones and engaging in surgeries to make her appearance more in keeping with how she felt inside . Tammy depended on her boyfriend to pay for the medications and procedures . Occasionally he ' d hide Tammy ' s medication as a " punishment " when he felt Tammy had not been sufficiently submissive . Stopping the hormones cold turkey this way made Tammy feel moody and sick .
People whose partners abuse them live with near constant anxiety and fear ; This also causes physical changes .
Victims of coercive control frequently experience medical problems including heart trouble ; non-specific head , back , and stomach pains ; and difficulty sleeping and eating . Patients often don ’ t realise their relationship is the cause of their ailments .
Being controlled by a partner can also contribute to psychological symptoms such as : depression ,
anxiety ,
substance abuse and
suicidal feelings .
Providers sometimes prescribe medication , tests , and referrals to specialists for a problem that has roots in the patients ' intimate relationship .
Physical violence and coercive control reinforce each other .
Even minor acts of physical violence make it easier to control a partner and intensify the effects of insults and threats . Similarly , people who feel entrapped and isolated become more afraid of physical blows . The abuser uses whichever tool seems to make the most sense at a given moment , including loving acts , to make the partner more compliant .
“ Sex on demand ” is a common rule in coercive control relationships . A victim who tries to decline sex may be accused of not loving a partner or cheating on him or her ,